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Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering

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A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil and Water".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 6367

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yuke Wang

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Guest Editor

School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: mechanical characteristics of soil; constitutive model of soil; foundation treatment; traffic geotechnical engineering; infrastructure inspection and ecological restoration;
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiang Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

School of Water Conservancy and Transportation, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
Interests: dam engineering; overburden foundation; dynamic response; damage of concrete diaphragm structure; liquefaction and stability analysis; numerical analysis method; refined analysis method
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As dam and slope infrastructures endure prolonged service periods, the progressive aging mechanism, manifested as material property degradation and cumulative environmental damage, poses an increasingly severe threat to their structural integrity. Their long-term stability and reliability are increasingly facing various challenges. For example, slope instability and damage to dam foundations may occur due to soil liquefaction, erosion, or overtopping during extreme rainfall or seismic activities, leading to catastrophic consequences such as structural collapse or downstream cascading disasters. Furthermore, changes in hydrological patterns have further exacerbated these risks. Therefore, a reasonable evaluation of slope stability, the implementation of suitable risk-mitigation and reinforcement measures, and the assurance of safe and stable dam operation carry immense engineering significance for hydropower generation, water resource management, and flood control. This Special Issue of the journal will focus on cutting-edge research in disaster mechanisms, risk assessment, and prevention technologies for dam and slope engineering. Topics include, but are not limited to, the following: slope stability analysis under multi-hazard scenarios, failure modes of embankment dams, resilient reinforcement materials, coupled hydro-mechanical modeling, and post-disaster recovery frameworks.

We believe these subjects will be very useful for the further development of dam and slope engineering.

Prof. Dr. Yuke Wang
Dr. Xiang Yu
Guest Editors

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Keywords

hydraulic structure
geotechnical engineering
safety evaluation
numerical simulation
fine analysis
dynamic response
soft foundation
mechanical characteristics
damage behavior
treatment measure

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3859 KB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Vertical-Array Lateral Scanning in Seepage Detection of Urban Levees with Adjacent Underground Spaces

by Xiaodong Cheng, Jian Tong, Maomei Wang, Yi Xu, Sicheng Wan and Kaiyong Rao

Water 2026, 18(10), 1140; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18101140 - 10 May 2026

Viewed by 288

Abstract

With the increasing development of underground spaces adjacent to urban levees, contact seepage frequently occurs at the interface between the soil and underground structures. However, traditional geophysical detection methods are often rendered ineffective in such environments due to spatial restrictions and detection blind spots. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a vertical-array lateral scanning detection method. This approach utilizes electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) with flat-base electrodes and ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to acquire data directly from vertical wall surfaces. The feasibility of this method is validated through numerical simulations and field data. The results indicate that the proposed method effectively overcomes the high-resistance shielding effect of hardened walls and clearly reveals the electrical structure of the soil behind the wall. Specifically, the contact seepage zone manifests as a layered low-resistivity feature immediately adjacent to the wall, while the penetrating leakage channel presents as a continuous low-resistivity anomaly extending from the contact interface deep into the levee body. These findings confirm the applicability of this technology for the qualitative identification and effective detection of hazards in complex, space-restricted urban environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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17 pages, 2522 KB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Dimensional Probabilistic Framework for Stability Assessment of Unsaturated Slopes Under Rainfall Infiltration

by Qingguo Wang, Yabing Ma, Mingyang Ren and Heng Liu

Water 2026, 18(9), 1099; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18091099 - 4 May 2026

Viewed by 805

Abstract

Given the escalating impacts of global climate change and extreme weather events, the accurate stability assessment of rainfall-induced landslides necessitates a comprehensive consideration of both seepage processes and the inherent spatial variability of soils. Traditional deterministic and two-dimensional (2D) analyses often fail to capture the multi-dimensional kinematic features of slope failures and the stochastic nature of soil heterogeneity, thereby leading to inaccurate risk assessments. This study proposes a three-dimensional (3D) slope reliability analysis framework. Within this framework, a 3D slope geometric model is constructed using GeoStudio 2025.1.0 software, and seepage analysis is conducted by the SEEP3D module. To account for soil spatial variability, the Karhunen–Loève (K-L) expansion method is employed to discretize key shear strength parameters (effective cohesion and effective angle of internal friction). The factor of safety (F_s) is evaluated using the 3D simplified Bishop method, which is then coupled with Monte Carlo simulations to determine the probability of failure (P_f). The results show that rainfall infiltration causes progressive dissipation of shallow matric suction and a significant rise in the groundwater table near the slope toe, resulting in reduced effective stress in the critical resistance zone. As rainfall intensity increases, the F_s decreases approximately linearly from 1.14 to 0.90, whereas the P_f increases nonlinearly from nearly 0 to 98.36%. Under the rainstorm condition, although the F_s remains above unity at 1.063, the corresponding P_f reaches 23%, indicating that deterministic evaluation based only on the F_s may underestimate the actual failure risk. The proposed framework provides a quantitative tool for evaluating rainfall-induced slope instability by integrating transient hydraulic response, three-dimensional spatial variability, and probabilistic reliability assessment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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17 pages, 9607 KB

Open AccessArticle

Anisotropic Characteristics of Slope Soil in Embankment Under Drained Shear Conditions

by Fengming Zhou, Yuke Wang, Xinqi Zhao, Nengbo Cai, Quanling Li, Yu Li and Shuaiqiang Bai

Water 2026, 18(6), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18060695 - 16 Mar 2026

Viewed by 315

Abstract

The long-term stability of embankments is directly influenced by the stress paths associated with river water level fluctuations. To investigate the anisotropic characteristics of slope soil in embankments under such drainage-induced gradual loading conditions, a series of drained directional shear tests was conducted on slope soil to investigate the coupled effects of the principal stress direction angle α and the intermediate principal stress coefficient b on its strength, deformation, and non-coaxial characteristics. Results showed that radial strain exhibited minimal sensitivity to variations in the principal stress direction angle α at the constant principal stress coefficient b. The circumferential and axial strain directions demonstrated symmetry. Specimens initially contracted then dilated during shearing. Octahedral shear strain anisotropy was more significant at b = 0.5 and 1 than at b = 0. For a constant α, the normalized strength at b = 0.5 exceeded that at b = 0 and 1. Strength showed significant anisotropy across angles α at a constant b. Specimens exhibited significant non-coaxial behavior under axial-torsional shear loading. This study offers theoretical insight into embankment slope behavior under anisotropic stress paths. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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20 pages, 6705 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Simulation and Stability Analysis of Highway Subgrade Slope Collapse Induced by Rainstorms—A Case Study

by Pancheng Cen, Boheng Shen, Yong Ding, Jiahui Zhou, Linze Shi, You Gao and Zhibin Cao

Water 2026, 18(2), 144; https://doi.org/10.3390/w18020144 - 6 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 815 | Correction

Abstract

This study investigates rainstorm-induced highway subgrade slope collapses in the coastal areas of Southeast China. By integrating the seepage–stress coupled finite element method with the strength reduction method, we simulate the entire process of seepage, deformation, and slope collapse under rainstorm conditions, analyzing the variation in the stability factor. The key findings are as follows: (1) During rainstorms, water infiltration increases soil saturation and pore water pressure, while reducing matrix suction and soil shear strength, leading to soil softening. (2) The toe of the subgrade slope first undergoes plastic deformation under rainstorms, which develops upward, and finally the plastic zone connects completely, causing collapse. The simulated landslide surface is consistent with the actual one, revealing the collapse mechanism of the subgrade slope. Additionally, the simulated displacement at the slope toe when the plastic zone connects provides valuable insights for setting warning thresholds in landslide monitoring. (3) The stability factor of the subgrade slope in the case study decreased from 1.24 before the rainstorm to 0.985 after the rainstorm, indicating a transition from a stable state to an unstable state. (4) Parameter analysis shows that heavy downpour or downpour will cause the case subgrade slope to enter an unstable state. The longer the rainfall duration, the lower the stability factor. Analysis of soil parameters indicates that strength parameters, internal friction angle, and effective cohesion exert a significant influence on slope stability, whereas deformation parameters, elastic modulus, and Poisson’s ratio have a negligible effect. Slope collapse can be timely forecasted by predicting the stability factor. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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16 pages, 4732 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modeling and Load Capacity Analysis of Helical Anchors for Dam Foundation Reinforcement Against Water Disasters

by Dawei Lv, Zixian Shi, Zhendu Li, Songzhao Qu and Heng Liu

Water 2025, 17(15), 2296; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152296 - 1 Aug 2025

Viewed by 947

Abstract

Hydraulic actions may compromise dam foundation stability. Helical anchors have been used in dam foundation reinforcement projects because of the advantages of large uplift and compression bearing capacity, fast installation, and convenient recovery. However, the research on the anchor plate, which plays a key role in the bearing performance of helical anchors, is insufficient at present. Based on the finite element model of helical anchor, this study reveals the failure mode and influencing factors of the anchor plate and establishes the theoretical model of deformation calculation. The results showed that the helical anchor plate had obvious bending deformation when the dam foundation reinforced with a helical anchor reached large deformation. The helical anchor plate can be simplified to a flat circular disk. The stress distribution of the closed flat disk and the open flat disk was consistent with that of the helical disk. The maximum deformation of the closed flat disk was slightly smaller than that of the helical disk (less than 6%), and the deformation of the open flat disk was consistent with that of the helical disk. The results fill the blank of the design basis of helical anchor plate and provide a reference basis for the engineering design. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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18 pages, 15284 KB

Open AccessArticle

Two-Dimensional Flood Modeling of a Piping-Induced Dam Failure Triggered by Seismic Deformation: A Case Study of the Doğantepe Dam

by Fatma Demir, Suleyman Sarayli, Osman Sonmez, Melisa Ergun, Abdulkadir Baycan and Gamze Tuncer Evcil

Water 2025, 17(15), 2207; https://doi.org/10.3390/w17152207 - 24 Jul 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2537

Abstract

This study presents a scenario-based, two-dimensional flood modeling approach to assess the potential downstream impacts of a piping-induced dam failure triggered by seismic activity. The case study focuses on the Doğantepe Dam in northwestern Türkiye, located near an active branch of the North Anatolian Fault. Critical deformation zones were previously identified through PLAXIS 2D seismic analyses, which served as the physical basis for a dam break scenario. This scenario was modeled using the HEC-RAS 2D platform, incorporating high-resolution topographic data, reservoir capacity, and spatially varying Manning’s roughness coefficients. The simulation results show that the flood wave reaches downstream settlements within the first 30 min, with water depths exceeding 3.0 m in low-lying areas and flow velocities surpassing 6.0 m/s, reaching up to 7.0 m/s in narrow sections. Inundation extents and hydraulic parameters such as water depth and duration were spatially mapped to assess flood hazards. The study demonstrates that integrating physically based seismic deformation data with hydrodynamic modeling provides a realistic and applicable framework for evaluating flood risks and informing emergency response planning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Disaster Analysis and Prevention of Dam and Slope Engineering)

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